We love reading, we love music, and we like to celebrate all things musical in a big and friendly way, so how about some giant-sized compositional creativity?

But first, like famous composers the world over, we needed some inspiration ourselves. There can be none better than watching some clips from that great British musical institution – The BBC Promenade concerts – better known as The Proms. Taking place every summer in The Royal Albert Hall, what proved especially appealing to our would-be Mozarts was all the fun and frivolity that happens on The Last Night:

Suitably inspired by The Sailor’s Hornpipe and Rule Britannia, our budding composers set their creative juices to work. Lots of giant-sized notes to choose from, giant-sized staves to stick them on to, and a little help from our Big Friendly Music Library Team and the Big Friendly Children’s Librarian. We definitely had some musical prodigies in the making, before long some interesting and unusual melodies had started to appear; all manner of original harmonies which would doubtless impress some of our greatest composers.

But no composer can be satisfied until they’ve heard their “magnum opus” performed, these Big Friendly tunes need to be played!

Luckily Westminster Music Library boasts a splendid piano, and even luckier, our Music Library Team has a pianist – who (fortunately) can sight read. Giant scores at the ready for our grand finale concert, this years’ Summer Reading Challenge as presented by the next generation of Big Friendly composers!

“The power of music to integrate and cure… is quite fundamental. It is the profoundest nonchemical medication.”– Oliver Sacks

Westminster Music Library’s five month programme of mindfulness workshops – Humming in Harmony – clearly demonstrates how true this statement is. These simple workshops, designed to improve mental health and beat isolation, connecting and bringing people together through music, have received lots of very positive feedback.

Created by Sergio Lopez Figueroa, a qualified piano teacher and composer, Humming in Harmony uses the human voice and the power of vocal harmonies in new ways to relax the mind, whilst providing an opportunity to get away from our hectic digital lives.

So what happens when we hum? I asked Sergio to explain:

“Music is energy, so by focusing on pitch or frequency and through conscious breathing, we feel the vibration, and over time improve concentration and focus by listening to ourselves and others simultaneously…. gradually we develop the ability to use this energy to interact with others, and to experience the benefit of tension and release in musical harmonies, and in our bodies and minds. From structured to open sessions, we can experience free expression, lead or follow as we please. We are each responsible for co-creating the best experience for the whole group, which makes Humming in Harmony different from other similar practices”.

It sounds simple enough, no qualifications or experience necessary, just turn up and start humming, and this is the really good part – singing and humming not only brings people together, it’s also a great way to relax, unwind, de-stress, improve listening skills and pitch recognition, and helps develop correct breathing techniques.

So with Mental Health Awareness Week fast approaching, last Saturday, Sergio – with a little help from Westminster Music Library – organised Mind the Body, a day of public health awareness activities focusing on music. Sergio demonstrated how the power of music can facilitate positive changes in emotional wellbeing, how it encourages communication, self-awareness and an awareness of others. The day included interactive presentations by health practitioners, case studies, a film screening and Q&A session, and a creative Humming in Harmony improvisation led by Sergio on piano.

As you can see from the comments below from some of those who came along, I think it’s fair to say people got quite a lot out of the day:

‘Something I would normally never do – it’s a complete change to my usual hectic life.’

‘Excellent workshop, made me concentrate. Therefore, think positively in the present and left cares behind.’

‘Uplifting! Great help after feeling low.’

And from Sergio himself:

‘Thanks for Westminster Music Library’s support in offering the time and space to start a new initiative like Humming in Harmony, and the efforts you’ve made to generate awareness. The event on Saturday was very successful. We discussed issues about health, showed some interesting videos, and had two humming sessions. Having the piano was a real bonus, the improvisation with keyboard and humming was very well received. Participants were asking when the next sessions are as they are keen to continue.’

Save the date –
Saturday 7 May is
Free Comic Book Day

Across North America and around the world, comic shops will be giving away free comics. And Westminster Libraries are taking part, courtesy of the lovely folks at Forbidden Planet who are providing the comics.

You can collect yours from your local library (see list of participating libraries below). One title per customer, while stocks last – which won’t be long!

There is a Doctor Who title, a Superhero Girls title and selected libraries will also have Suicide Squad (suitable for teens and over only).

“Free Comic Book Day is the perfect occasion for newcomers to comics as well as those who have been reading them for years to celebrate comics and discover new titles that debut on the first Saturday in May”– Free Comic Book Day spokesperson Dan Manser

Why not check out the graphic novel collection while you are there and see what else your library has to offer?

On Wednesday 20 May, Victoria Library was host to a bustling Spring Health and Volunteering Fair. This year’s event was delivered as part of SW Connects project to support better integration of the armed forces families and their local community.

More than 100 people came by throughout the afternoon to indulge in free massages, take part in a taster session to make healthy summer rolls, learn about mindfulness and get their health checked. There were also plenty of opportunities to investigate some of the many volunteering options available.

Like this:

Celebrate and discover the amazing world of comics on Free Comic Book Day!Taking place annually on the first Saturday in May, Free Comic Book Day is a single day when participating comic book specialist shops around the world give away comic books – and this year, for this first time, we are very pleased to have some free comics from Forbidden Planet to give away.

What are we giving away?
DC Comics: Divergence

A first look at upcoming storylines, featuring three 8-page previews for the June releases of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Batman, as well as Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok’s launch of the “Darkseid War” within Justice League featuring the biggest villains in the DCU – Darkseid and the Anti-Monitor, and Gene Luen Yang’s DC Comics debut with celebrated artist John Romita, Jr on Superman.Rating: Teen

These are just the special events this Saturday – we have literally hundreds of other events going on every day of the week across our network of libraries. Keep an eye on the Forthcoming events page for one-off events and at the regular events section of your own library’s events page for regular activities.

Or just come in and have a look at our wide range of books for both adults and children, use the library computers, ask a question, borrow a DVD or CD, find out about local history at the Archives Centre, use our amazing special collections or use the study space we offer.

Regular library users – or even lapsed ones – will enjoy the Twitter-based quiz we’ve got going on this morning. We’re posting pictures of details, features or aspects of many Westminster libraries and asking you to work out which one it is – take a look at #HowWellDoYouKnowYourLibrary? on Twitter to have a go. We’ll also be posting the pictures on here and Facebook later on.

… a celebration of the 80th anniversary of the birth of Elvis Presley.

The ‘King’ of millions of hearts all over the world and rock ‘n’ roll, Elvis Aaron Presley (born: Tupelo, Mississippi, 8 January 1935) defined an era.

He was the man of the showbiz industry in his time, with the unearthly ability to deliver hit song after hit song to the obvious delight of his fans. The man who from his humble beginnings from the farmlands of Memphis, Tennessee ended up making the whole world dance to his tunes, whose killer looks made many go weak at the knees, a man who made rock ‘n’ roll what it is today and will always be remembered as a true superstar.

He rose from poverty to fame in the mid 1950s, attracting large audiences – particularly teenage girls – at concerts everywhere he went. Elvis was young and attractive, had a great voice, and his sound and style were totally unique. His musical style was a combination of black rhythm & blues, country, blues, pop music of the time, and gospel. Nicknamed “Elvis the pelvis” for his swivelling dance moves, some parents and church goers considered him vulgar, and a dangerous influence to teenagers.

Acting had been his dream for many years, and in 1956 he realised his ambition with the film “Love me tender”. Between 1956 and 1961 he was recording, giving live concerts, and making films (with the exception of his time in the army) and achieved international fame.

Other films from this early period include “Jailhouse rock” and “King Creole”, and soon after returning from the army in 1961 he abandoned singing to live audiences and turned exclusively to film making.

In the 1960s Elvis was acting in one film after another (films like “Blue Hawaii” and “Viva Las Vegas”), but he became dissatisfied with his acting career and stopped making films in 1969, returning instead to live concerts.

From 1970 until his death in 1977, Elvis toured in concerts across the USA, an estimated total of over 1,000 performances. He made history with these elaborate shows, his costumes (most often jumpsuits) breaking box office records.

Elvis died unexpectedly in 1977 from a heart attack, prescription drug abuse indicated as a cause. He has sold over 1 billion albums worldwide, has over 100 gold / platinum awards for his singles and albums within the USA, he is by far one of the most popular artists of all time, and his records and films continue to sell well today.

And the King lives on – the number of Elvis Presley impersonators has reached an all-time record high – there are now at least 85,000 Elvises around the world, compared to only 170 in 1977 when he died. At this rate of growth, experts predict that by 2019 Elvis impersonators will make up a third of the world population! Why not release your “inner Elvis” and borrow one of our Elvis Presley scores?